Brown, Sapp among finalists for HOF voting

Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown and defensive lineman Warren Sapp are among the 15 modern-era finalists in voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sapp is among the four first-year-eligible nominees. Brown made the cut for the final 15 last year before being bypassed.
The 15 modern-era finalists were determined by a vote of the Hall’s Selection Committee from a list of 127 nominees that earlier was reduced to a list of 27 semifinalists, during the multi-step, year-long selection process.
Curley Culp and Dave Robinson were selected as senior candidates by the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee. The Seniors Committee reviews the qualifications of those players whose careers took place more than 25 years ago.
The final vote takes place the day before the Super Bowl, with anywhere from four to seven players being selected for induction in early August.
Brown played for the Raiders from 1988-2003 and concluded his NFL career with the Buccaneers in 2004. This is the fourth year he has been on the ballot.
Here is Brown’s bio:

Defensive Tackle … 6-2, 300 … Miami (FL) … 1995-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Oakland Raiders … 13 seasons, 198 games … Selected in first round (12th player overall) by Tampa Bay in 1995 NFL Draft … Instant starter … Named to All-Rookie Team, 1995 … Amassed 96.5 career sacks despite playing on interior of defensive line … Recorded double-digit sack totals four times … Had more than one sack in a game 23 times … Named 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year after helping lead Tampa Bay to first division title in 18 years … Registered 12.5 sacks, 54 tackles, three forced fumbles, and recovered two fumbles, 1999 … Recorded career-high 16.5 sacks, 2000 … Started in two NFC championship games, one Super Bowl … Recorded two tackles, one sack, two passes defensed, and forced fumble in Bucs’ 48-21 win over Raiders, Super Bowl XXXVII … Additional career statistics include four interceptions, two touchdown receptions … First-team All-Pro four straight times (1999-2002) … Second-team All-NFL in 1997, 1998 … All-NFC five times … Selected to seven Pro Bowls … Named to NFL’s All-Decade Teams of the 1990s, 2000s … Born December 19, 1972 in Orlando, Florida.

I don’t have a top pick.To be honest I don’t know who is the best choice.I hope the HC hires the guy that will be successful and the guy he feels he can work with-that is his phucking job,not mine.I also don’t like to say this guy is the best because I don’t want to be pissed if he chooses someone I didn’t think of.When I mentioned fantasy land I was referring to those that don’t believe the HC will pick his OC but the GM will.As i said,CEOs don’t hire the dept heads,the people they hire do.In football,GMs hire HCs,HCs hire their staff.That is the norm.

Reggie/DA have been derelict in not interviewing at the very least. You never know if the guy you originally targeted a) impresses, b) accepts, c) team grants permission, d) takes another job with another team instead.

Reggie didn’t have Allen as on his first HC list. He interviewed other candidates first, and at some point decided to interview Allen, and then later grew to like him more than what people rumored would be Winston Moss coming here for sure.

If Reggie has his sights on a Packers/Falcons coach, all well and good, but if he’d interviewed a bunch of others during this whole interim, when he finally interviewed the target, he might change his mind and realize one of the others offered better.

Also, on that, you interview many in order to judge all of them side by side, see how they all would help the offense, their ideas, plans, philosophies, and can make a better evaluation of the one you targeted originally as your #1.

Like others have worried….not even one rumor or source leaking about the raiders and a potential coach. Something is fishy. Otherwise, I can only think Reggie/Allen have been DERELICT in their jobs not interviewing, not picking brains, putting all their eggs in one coach in the playoffs who for all we know might turn us down or they don’t like after an interview. Reggie/Allen showing their noobness once again in their jobs.

Like I said yesterday….the AFC West keeps getting stronger, except us, lagging behind.

lefty12

I’m sure Reggie and DA work together,go over candidates together,but the decision will be made by DA,as it should be.

again, my focal point is….at least interview, bring coaches in to interview, pick brains, create a competition among potential coaches for the Raiders OC job, creating leverage, and above all….due diligence in better judging/comparing all these coaches plans/ideas on how to improve the offense before making a decision.

Like Davis only interviewing McKenzie for GM. Should’ve interviewed a number of them to best judge.

lefty12

GG,once,again as you often do,you are jumping to conclusions when you have no idea what is really happening.How do you know they haven’t interviewed anyone?How do you know they haven’t put out feelers and have gotten positive responses?You don’t,yet you say they aren’t doing their jobs.Ever heard of the saying loose lips sink ships!

Why not wait,see who DA hires,and then you guys can complain all you want,which I’m positive you will.And yes,DA will hire his staff.We are no longer run by a dictator who forces coordinators and assistants on his HC.The HC will bring in someone he feels comfortable working with.If he and his staff fail once again,they will be replaced.That is how it is done and should be done.The CEO of a company doesn’t hire the head of accounting.Think real world instead of the fantasy land many of you are stuck in.
———————————–
Lefty, is that you?

They haven’t interviewed anyone, otherwise there’d be tweets from multiple sources, there’d be PFT articles including us as a team that so-and-so coach has done the interview circuit, there’d be articles by Corkran/McDonald about it on here.

Eg, Norv Turner. He’s had multiple articles written about him interviewing teams, before finally deciding on the Browns. The Raiders would’ve been mentioned alongside the other teams who interviewed him.

The ONLY thing I’ve read is what someone posted here about seeing Pete Carmichael at Oakland. But still, no other media source has mentioned an interview.

Trestman, Whisenhunt, Turner, etc have not had interviews with us.

But you’re right about something….Reggie COULD’VE put feelers out via phone with them, and likely got told, “thanks but not thanks” as they’re all interviewing for HC jobs or accepted OC jobs. Again, we’d have heard of the Raiders showing interest in them, even if no interview was had, by their agents or the likes of Cole, Silver, Schefter, Breer, etc.

As the Jets prepare to hire a successor to Tony Sparano as offensive coordinator, the list of candidates stands at three.

Per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, they are former Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, Bengals assistant Hue Jackson, and former Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.

All three men once served as head coaches, with Mornhinweg in Detroit, Jackson in Oakland, and Cameron in Miami. Of the trio, Mornhinweg last the longest at two years.

Their experience as head coaches could make them candidates for the interim head-coaching job, if the 2013 Jets fail miserably and Rex Ryan is fired during the season.

Jackson’s presence could put the Jets in play for Carson Palmer, if he’s cut by the Raiders. If Mornhinweg gets the job, speculation linking Mike Vick to the Jets will increase. Either way, the Jets will still have to deal with Mark Sanchez’s contract, which pays him a fully-guaranteed $8.25 million in 2013, with no offset.
….

Raiders cutting Palmer?

Why are these guys not connected to Oakland(other than Hue)?

Raider8

lefty12 Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Why not wait,see who DA hires,and then you guys can complain all you want,which I’m positive you will.And yes,DA will hire his staff.We are no longer run by a dictator who forces coordinators and assistants on his HC.The HC will bring in someone he feels comfortable working with.If he and his staff fail once again,they will be replaced.That is how it is done and should be done.The CEO of a company doesn’t hire the head of accounting.Think real world instead of the fantasy land many of you are stuck in.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Trust da to make the decision? He should be babied every step of the way. This is the same buffoon who hired Greg Knapp.

DA should be monitored 24/7. he’s screwed up this organization enough.

Cuz of him, we’re sitting here watching other teams in the playoffs instead of us.

lefty12

You don’t know if they have interviewed anyone or not.As far as Jerry or Cork reporting it,you must be joking.They are usually a half a day to a full day late on things reported by the national media about the Raiders.Besides,both are working on the whiners play-off run.They don’t have time for the Raiders until something is announced.

Reggie has put all his eggs in the Packers basket. Just waiting for them to lose so he can formally interview and hire one of the assistant coaches he’s pre-determined he wants to hire.

Or…

Leaving it to Allen at the Senior Bowl to put feelers out, see if he likes a coach or two as an OC candidate, and then after returning from the Senior Bowl, Reggie and him can interview together these hand-picked 2 or 3 coaches Allen liked and that they were also interested in coaching with him.

Raider8

After the knapp disaster what’s da gonna do for an encore? chuck bresnahan for OC?

lefty12

Cuz of him, we’re sitting here watching other teams in the playoffs instead of us.
==========================
Yeah,right.When you return to reality let me know,maybe we can talk.Look,whether you like it or not,DA is the HC.HCs hire their staffs.That is how things work in the real world not dictated by an old man who was once great at what he did but time passed him by.

Raider8

Bleacher report says we should have an oc by the time that game starts. Once again we’ll be a day late and dollar short. Of course al saunders just makes too much sense for these idiots.

If we have interviewed anyone, it WOULD HAVE been mentioned by PFT, Breer, Cole, Silver, Schefter, etc, with ALL THE OTHER teams who also interviewed those coaches. THEN we’d have had an article by Corkran/McDonald about how that coach had an interview. Just like they posted McClain’s arrest after it got reported by everyone else.

All the coaches that have been doing the interview circuit have had tons of articles written about all the teams they’ve interviewed with or set up interviews with. Not one of them has been reported to have interviewed with or asked permission to be interviewed with by the Raiders.

Thus…none of them have been interviewed by the Raiders. Not one coach has, is the realistic/logical conclusion.

The ONLY RUMOR has been Pete Carmichael….that wasn’t even reported, just someone mentioning it here. And that doesn’t count as a reliable source.

Super Dawg

Wonder who Beeech Diggity Dawg wants for OC. As long as he has some super man sized nads, I’m down with that. Lets git this partay started. PMPP in splooge effect.

When going over through the coaching staffs on each team for the best offensive coordinator candidates, a stunning realization occurs-They’re all Packers. So, criticize Reggie McKenzie all you want about plucking talent from Green Bay but if he were to do it this time, you can’t blame him. The best options still on playoff teams appear to all be Packers.

If this were true, it would also mean naming an offensive coordinator would wait until the Packers are no longer in the playoffs. They defeated the Vikings last week and play the 49ers in this weekend’s division round.

Here are those offensive coordinator candidates in order of possible interest:

Ben McAdoo, QB coach, Packers

McAdoo was promoted to his current post as quarterbacks coach last season after Tom Clements was promoted to offensive coordinator. It makes him an up and coming coach in the NFL ranks just as Dennis Allen was before last season. McAdoo spent the previous six seasons as tight ends coach in Green Bay. Packers head coach, Mike McCarthy hired McAdoo as an assistant offensive line/quality control coach while he was the 49ers’ offensive coordinator and brought McAdoo along with him to New Orleans and later Green Bay. So, you could say he liked him.

Raiders connections: McAdoo spent six seasons as tight ends coach in Green Bay while Reggie McKenzie was an executive there. Was assistant offensive line/quality control coach in San Francisco in 2005 which was Jason Tarver’s first season as outside linebackers coach there.

James Campen, Oline coach, Packers

A former NFL center for the Saints and Packers, Campen moved on to coaching. He has been with the Packers since 2004 and has been their offensive line coach since 2007. In his first season as the offensive line coach, the Packers offense went from being ranked 22nd to 4thin points and 2nd in yards and has been top five in all but one season (when they were ranked 10th) since then. Many people will point to Aaron Rodgers being the most sacked quarterback in the NFL as a detractor. But if you watch the games, that is more a factor of Rodgers than the offensive line. He has time to sit in the pocket and prefers to take a sack than make an ill advised throw. It has paid off. The Packers have also had a great deal of success running the ball in the zone blocking scheme with several low drafted or undrafted players such as Ryan Grant (undrafted), James Starks (Round 6) and Alex Green (Round 3). Dennis Allen says he is not married to any scheme but that doesn’t mean he won’t flirt with the ZBS again. We know he likes it.

Raiders connections: Originally from Sacramento. Born and raised in Northern California. Was on Packers staff eight years while Reggie McKenzie was an executive there.

Jerry Fontenot, TE coach, Packers

Like Campen, was a former NFL center who moved into coaching. Those centers are smart guys. Before entering the NFL, he had played every single position on the offensive line in college at Texas A&M. He spent 16 years in the league with the Bears, Saints, and Bengals, retiring in 2004. He joined the Packers as a coaching intern in 2006, was named assistant offensive line coach in 2007, then running back coach in 2011 before being named tight ends coach last season.

Raiders connections: Attended Texas A&M and graduated just a couple seasons before Dennis Allen arrived as a player for the Aggies. Dennis Allen’s father, Grady, also played at Texas A&M and is a member of the Texas A&M Hall of Fame. Fontenot spent six seasons with Reggie McKenzie in Green Bay.

One interesting name not on the Packers:

Pat Hill, Oline coach, Falcons

Yes, THAT Pat Hill. The former head coach of the Fresno State Bulldogs. He was head coach at Fresno State for 15 seasons from 1997-2011. During that time he led the Bulldogs to 11 bowl game appearances while developing many NFL players including Trent Dilfer, former number one overall pick, David Carr, current Patriots guard Logan Mankins, and Chargers current starting running back, Ryan Mathews.

Raiders connections: Los Angeles California native, went to high school in Lake Arrowhead California. Has spent 24 of his 38 years in coaching in California.

Why not wait,see who DA hires,and then you guys can complain all you want,which I’m positive you will.And yes,DA will hire his staff.We are no longer run by a dictator who forces coordinators and assistants on his HC.The HC will bring in someone he feels comfortable working with.If he and his staff fail once again,they will be replaced.That is how it is done and should be done.The CEO of a company doesn’t hire the head of accounting.Think real world instead of the fantasy land many of you are stuck in.
———————————–
Lefty, is that you?
———————————————————–
??????

jackasspuria

The most important aspect of whomever DA brings in as OC is this — has said coached called plays before.

DA — if he sticks to the same mantra — will let the OC call the plays on gameday.

ProRaider

Raider8 Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 8:45 pm
lefty12 Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Why not wait,see who DA hires,and then you guys can complain all you want,which I’m positive you will.And yes,DA will hire his staff.We are no longer run by a dictator who forces coordinators and assistants on his HC.The HC will bring in someone he feels comfortable working with.If he and his staff fail once again,they will be replaced.That is how it is done and should be done.The CEO of a company doesn’t hire the head of accounting.Think real world instead of the fantasy land many of you are stuck in.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Trust da to make the decision? He should be babied every step of the way. This is the same buffoon who hired Greg Knapp.

DA should be monitored 24/7. he’s screwed up this organization enough.

Cuz of him, we’re sitting here watching other teams in the playoffs instead of us.
___________

After reading some of the comments in here, I decided to post what I think about DA hiring an OC. My feeling is Reggie had no trust in DAs ability to hire an OC and that isn’t sitting well with DA. DA is also sick of Reggie plucking all he can from Green Bay. Reggie wants the next OC from GB and Allen wants his own guy, whoever. We got a battle of egos. Look for DA to bolt cuz Reggie doesn’t trust him. And DA knows it.

lefty12

GG,most of the articles you see have headlines like Jets are targeting so and so.Either the team puts it out who they are targeting or someone speculates who they are after.Just because we haven’t made any public statements doesn’t mean we aren’t doing anything.How often are these lists totally wrong in the end anyway?The media thrives on throwing out BS and more often than not they don’t know what they are talking about.You can’t honestly believe we aren’t doing anything but sitting on our rears and twiddling our thumbs.

Purvisman/Intrepid/Eternal Optimist

RaiderRockstar Says:
Alan Lowry (Titans) has to be better than Hoffman was.
I’ll take him for ST Coach over Keith Burns!!
====================================================

Who’d we have last year that DA let go? I’ll take him.

ProRaider

The reason we won’t see Al Saunders at OC is cuz he ain’t a DA guy. Or a Reggie guy. Besides, it makes to much sense to put a guy in there who has the best pulse on the offense. DA and Reggie defy logic.

jackasspuria

Until I see reports/stories/tweets saying Raiders have not interviewed anyone and are sitting on their laurels, I will go under the belief the team is doing things to fill coaching vacancies.

DJ Johnny

So Cutler in Chicago is “one of the most talented QB’s in the league” according to Peter King and Ed Werder but Palmer is a candidate to be ‘cut’ by the Raiders?

Palmer’s stats blow Cutler away career wise and recently, and Cutler had Forte and Bush as well as a 100 catch # 1 receiver in Brandon Marshall, and Plamer had what? DMAC’S 3.3 ypc and an undrafted rookie who caught 19 passes in college as HIS #1?

Gimme a break.

These big name analysts need to be called out for their b.s.

jackasspuria

Purvisman/Intrepid/Eternal Optimist

Raiders didn’t re-up Fassel. Since he felt no interest from Oakland, he signed on with the Rams.

Fassel and Waufle, that’s two coaches from the Raiders’ staff last season now on the Rams’ staff.

jackasspuria

DJ Johnny

I believe both Peter King and Ed Werder have diabetes, which also ails Cutler. That is the reason for all the love.

On a more serious note, diabetes is a serious ailment.

ron69

Just say NO to Star Lotulelei
— He doesn’t use his hands well
— His game is beating the man in front of him seems like he doesn’t know where the ball is most of the time
— As quick and strong he is still misses his gap often
— Some people say he is the next Ngata not even close, he might be the next Dorsey at best
— Add to the mix lack of stamina and you have a bust waiting to happen

Jackasspuria Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Until I see reports/stories/tweets saying Raiders have not interviewed anyone and are sitting on their laurels, I will go under the belief the team is doing things to fill coaching vacancies.
=======================================
Exactly.One can argue the pros and cons of how good these guys are doing their jobs,but to assume they are doing nothing is ridiculous.

GG,most of the articles you see have headlines like Jets are targeting so and so.Either the team puts it out who they are targeting or someone speculates who they are after.Just because we haven’t made any public statements doesn’t mean we aren’t doing anything.How often are these lists totally wrong in the end anyway?The media thrives on throwing out BS and more often than not they don’t know what they are talking about.You can’t honestly believe we aren’t doing anything but sitting on our rears and twiddling our thumbs.

++++

jackasspuria Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 9:06 pm

Until I see reports/stories/tweets saying Raiders have not interviewed anyone and are sitting on their laurels, I will go under the belief the team is doing things to fill coaching vacancies.

==========

Again, not one of the coaches doing the circuit the last couple weeks, who has been hired or still interviewing has been reported to have had an actual interview with the Raiders.

Their itinerary has been documented, confirmed. Coach So-and-So flew here, interviewed there, has a meeting set up with x,y,z team.

lefty12

234-and what scouting group do you work for,because it would seem you are the only person involved with football that has this opinion.

Raider8 Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 8:45 pm
lefty12 Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Why not wait,see who DA hires,and then you guys can complain all you want,which I’m positive you will.And yes,DA will hire his staff.We are no longer run by a dictator who forces coordinators and assistants on his HC.The HC will bring in someone he feels comfortable working with.If he and his staff fail once again,they will be replaced.That is how it is done and should be done.The CEO of a company doesn’t hire the head of accounting.Think real world instead of the fantasy land many of you are stuck in.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Trust da to make the decision? He should be babied every step of the way. This is the same buffoon who hired Greg Knapp.

DA should be monitored 24/7. he’s screwed up this organization enough.

Cuz of him, we’re sitting here watching other teams in the playoffs instead of us.
___________

After reading some of the comments in here, I decided to post what I think about DA hiring an OC. My feeling is Reggie had no trust in DAs ability to hire an OC and that isn’t sitting well with DA. DA is also sick of Reggie plucking all he can from Green Bay. Reggie wants the next OC from GB and Allen wants his own guy, whoever. We got a battle of egos. Look for DA to bolt cuz Reggie doesn’t trust him. And DA knows it.

========

I like people who are willing to make conspiracy theories like this. I do it all the time. No harm in reading between the lines intelligently. Even if it ends up wrong.

ProRaider

Maybe we’re doing nothing about an OC right now because maybe the Raiders will need a HC after the senior bowl. Maybe Reggie isn’t about to can DA at this point, but he might be a wait and see. Also, Reggie has a better chance for a HC once Green Bay is out of the playoffs. Think about it. Why haven’t we got an OC when all the other teams have. Reggie may be waiting to give Allen the pink slip if he embarrasses himself in the senior bowl.

jackasspuria

GG

Until Schefter, Jerry Mac, Cork, Tafur, King, Florio and any other media outlet can go on the record and put it on their site — with quotes would be even better — the Raiders have not interviewed a single soul or made progress or is even attempting to, in terms of filling coaching vacancies, I will be under the belief the team is doing something.

lefty12

GG,the key word is ‘intelligently’.That comment is far from it.If RG and DA didn’t trust each other or were sick of each other,why wasn’t DA let go along with the others?

Someone tweet Jerry/Steve/Silver/Cole/Breer and ask if they’ve heard ANY WORD WHATSOEVER of the Raiders showing interest, requesting interview, or being interviewed.

I bet you all of them say they’ve heard nothing at all.

ProRaider

I’m sorry I don’t buy this crap. Either DA and Reggie think a decent OC will fall out of the sky and land in their lap, which is why their doing nothing to find one, or Reggie is about to can DA once he finds the right ‘guy’.

DJ Johnny

jackasspuria Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
DJ Johnny

I believe both Peter King and Ed Werder have diabetes, which also ails Cutler. That is the reason for all the love.

On a more serious note, diabetes is a serious ailment.
—
Really the only thing Cutler has on Palmer is age. I think Cutler is 30 and Palmer just turned 33.

If we have no shot this coming season to do anything than I wish they WOULD trade him to the Jets and then maybe do something for him that the Raiders refused to do….get him some decent receivers.

Raider fans don’t give a crap about him anyway cuz he doesn’t live up to our high standards of excellence.

Imo, reggie is still evaluating the season, the coaches/players. And waiting for the packers to lose so he can interview/hire someone from the packers he pre-determined he wants.

That’s my CTheory, reading between the lines of the last two weeks inactivity/silence.

jackasspuria

DJ Johnny

My buddy who is a Jets fan, says he’s heard the Jets are very interested in getting Cam Cameron on board.

He, however, would like Hubris to come to NY. He’d like to see Palmer and DMC dealt to the Jets.

Pipe dream I told him. But, if Hubris did land with the Jets, you never know…

ProRaider

Lefty12 Says:
January 11th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
GG,the key word is ‘intelligently’.That comment is far from it.If RG and DA didn’t trust each other or were sick of each other,why wasn’t DA let go along with the others?
_________

Maybe Reggie and DA thought they could make it work. But you got to have trust to make a relationship work and I doubt there is any there.

jackasspuria

GG

Sent an email off to ProFootballTalk, specifically, Florio.

He’s pretty good at getting back to you if you email the PFT peeps and direct the note to Florio.

Was surprised.

Been trading emails sporadically since PFT broke Moss to the Raiders back in the day.

jackasspuria

From Rotoworld.com via the Cleveland paper…

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that new Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski “is set” to hire Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator.
Chud is actually a Turner disciple, having worked beneath him for several years in San Diego. It’s also believed that Mel Tucker may follow the two from Jacksonville to run the Browns’ defense. Turner will return from a vacation on Saturday, at which point the Browns are expected to schedule a press conference. Chudzinski will be in charge of all personnel decisions in Cleveland, so he will likely leave playcalling duties up to Turner.